Search

By: Alison Jacobson, The Safety Mom

Posted on: May 16, 2019

Connect With Us

Hygiene For Kids: Teaching Your Kids Good Personal Hygiene Habits

When I told my mom friends that I was writing a blog on tips on personal hygiene for kids every one of them were anxious for suggestions. Clearly, Houston we have a problem when it comes to our kid’s good personal hygiene habits.

Kids Teeth, Brushing Not Optional

Kids just don’t get it. For some reason brushing teeth is an activity they see as optional. I can’t count how many times my kids used to come out of the bathroom swearing they had brushed and you can just take one whiff of their breath and know they’re lying! Setting up good brushing habits early on is important for their future health in preventing gum disease and other issues. In fact, the top dental problem among preschoolers is tooth decay.

If you have a little one who isn’t into brushing their teeth try changing brands of toothpaste – it might be a taste issue. Also, let them pick out more than one tooth brush so that they can choose which one they’d like to use when brushing – a little control can go a long way!

Hand Washing For Kids

This is a big one – and possibly the one that makes parents the most crazy! While you might have been able to get your kids into the habit of washing their hands after using the bathroom, too often they don’t think about it after coughing, sneezing, touching a pet or their food, handling food or after touching garbage.

Handwashing for kids is an important habit since kids constantly touch their eyes, nose, and mouth and germs can easily get into the body causing a host of illnesses. Additionally, germs can be transferred onto toys, remote controls, mobile phones, door knobs and other high-touch items. Not only does this allow sickness to spread through your home but it can cause life-threatening illnesses for older relatives who live with you or may be visiting.

Make sure you have a soap dispenser next to every sink and think about buying scents that your kids like – coconut, berry, etc. Getting them to buy into hand washing really is a matter of setting up good habits as young as possible and modeling this for them. Talk to them about germs and how they want to “wash the bad guys” down the drain.

According to the Centers for Disease Control washing hands with soap and warm water is the best way to reduce the number of germs on them in most situations. If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in some situations, but sanitizers do not eliminate all types of germs and might not remove harmful chemicals. Also, alcohol-based hand sanitizers are harmful to children if swallowed so be sure you don’t leave it around little ones.

The Kids Shower Dilemma

For some parents it’s a constant struggle getting their kids to take a shower. For others, you just can’t get them out of there. As they enter puberty they just don’t seem to be aware of how STINKY they are! Kids enter puberty at different ages and it’s not uncommon for them to begin needing deodorant at 8 years old. While kids can use adult deodorants there are also many natural deodorants that don’t contain aluminum or parabens. Also, try using an antibacterial body wash or soap, especially in the summer when sweat will trap bacteria. These soaps can be drying so also make sure they use a moisturizer.